Davina McCall shares epic throwback snap from a New Year’s Eve party 30 years ago as she reflects on surviving life-threatening brain tumour in 2024

Davina McCall rang in 2025 by reflecting on her wild partying days. 

The TV star, 57, shared an epic throwback snap on Instagram to celebrate New Year’s Eve, showing what she was up to on that night back in 1993.

The pic showed the presenter looking stunning in a slinky black outfit with slicked back locks and red lippie. 

She later shared a quote by Paul C Brunson which read: ‘Have the courage to let go; For who you are becoming will catch you.’

In a post on Monday Davina revealed she feels like she’s been given a ‘second chance at life’ after surviving a life-threatening brain tumour. 

The TV presenter was recently forced to have surgery after doctors discovered a benign tumour on her brain that affects three in a million people. 

In a post on Monday Davina revealed she feels like she’s been given a ‘second chance at life’ after surviving a life-threatening brain tumour 

The tumour was picked up at a private clinic after she was offered a health check after taking part in a talk about menopause.

And weeks after a successful operation to remove the growth, Davina told how her survival feels like a ‘gift’ while reflecting on the success of her new Begin Again podcast.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the TV star recorded a video as she thanked fans for their support over her latest project, while also looking back on her own health journey as she admitted she feels like she’s ‘begun again’. 

She explained: ‘Thanks for joining me on my Begin Again podcast. I’ve loved recording this podcast, and I’ve loved meeting everybody.

‘What I’ve enjoyed about recording this podcast is, it’s so so broad. Begin Again can mean anything, it can mean something similar to what I’ve just been through, which is having a life-threatening tumour and it being removed. 

‘I feel like I’ve begun again, I mean in the weirdest sense, I guess because I’ve had a positive outcome. It’s like being given a second chance at life. It feels amazing, almost as if I’ve been given a gift.’

The former Big Brother host then went on to list other ways that beginning again relates to other people, as she listed things such as an enormous crisis, losing a job, a divorce or an accident.

Davina added that she’ll be on hand to support those who feel like they’re ‘stagnating’ in life or just need ‘a kick up the bum’ as she opened up about her hopes and plans for the podcast’s future. 

The TV presenter, 57, was recently forced to have surgery after doctors discovered a benign tumour on her brain that affects three in a million people [pictured in November after her surgery]

After a few moments of reflection, she concluded by adding: ‘I have found Christmas so challenging in the past and now I don’t find it challenging. So there’s always the possibility of new beginnings… always.

‘I think I’m gonna be a nightmare next year – I’ve gone very self-reflective!’

Davina previously explained that she received the diagnosis by chance after booking in for a ‘health scan’.

Davina said in a video: ‘I was offered a health scan which I thought I was going to ace but it turned out I had benign brain tumour which is very rare, three in a million.

Weeks after a successful operation to remove the growth, Davina told how her survival feels like a ‘gift’ while reflecting on the success of her new Begin Again podcast

‘I slightly put my head in the sand for a while, I saw a few neurosurgeons, had quite a lot of opinions and realised I needed to take it out.

‘It’s quite big, it’s 14mm wide and it needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad. I’m having it removed.’

She added: ‘Say a prayer for me. I’m in good spirits.’

Davina explained that while she was at no immediate risk, doctors were concerned that the tumour could grow larger and cause complications.

She revealed she had been feeling ‘up and down’ and explained she would be in hospital for at least nine days before coming home.

A colloid cyst is a slow-growing tumour typically found near the centre of the brain, containing gelatinous material. The benign growths are often asymptomatic and found incidentally during imaging tests.

If symptoms do occur as the tumour grows, they are commonly reported to include headaches that are most severe in the morning upon waking, nausea and blurry vision, with other key signs including vertigo and double vision.

Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms including vertigo, memory problems and double vision can occur.

If large enough, a colloid cyst obstructs the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain which leads to a high risk of sudden death.

Davina’s words comes days after she left The Masked Singer fans completely shocked as she is unmasked as Star on the Christmas Special episode on Thursday after having brain surgery.

Davina’s words comes days after she left The Masked Singer fans completely shocked as she is unmasked as Star on the Christmas Special episode on Thursday after having brain surgery 

The presenter, who has appeared as a judge for six series on the hit show, clearly picked up some tricks as she was voted second place after performing two festive tunes, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and This Christmas

The presenter, who has appeared as a judge for six series on the hit show, clearly picked up some tricks as she was voted second place after performing two festive tunes, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and This Christmas.

Davina looked in amazing spirits as she returned to TV after having surgery to remove a rare benign tumour on her brain. 

Regular panellists Jonathon Ross, 64, and Mo Gilligan, 36, were left gobsmacked as they were joined by guest judges Jennifer Saunders, 66, and Dawn French, 67.

Jonathan said: ‘There is absolutely no way, we thought you couldn’t sing that well. I’m glad your OK, but to me you are now dead’

Joel added: ‘I said you had diarrhoea and couldn’t be here’. 

Davina replied: ‘I thought you might get me with the DVD one. It has been a ball, thank you!’